Improvement in percussion-fuses for explosive shells



`J. W. COCHRAN.

eeeee sion Fuse.

N.? NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN DC tarran ra rns JOHN w. COGHRAN, or NEW ronn, Y.

Spceilieation forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,275, datcd January (i, 1863.

To all whom z't may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OIIN Wnnsrnn Coen- RAN, of the city, county, and State of New York, am the inventor of a new and useful Improvement in the Percussion Mechanism of Explosive Proj ectiles; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, whichis prepared with a view to the obtaining of Letters Patent therei'or.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a longitudinal section, partly shown as a perspcctive view, of a shell adapted to receive my percussion apparatus. It will be observcd that my shell is elongated and adapted to be fired from rifled ordnance. It

may be provided with any of theknown means of adaptation to the rifled grooves of the gun.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my percussion apparatus complete. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. l is a transverse section, of my percussion apparatus. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the shell and apparatus adapted and fitted together according to my invention, ready for use. The section cuts all but the plunger or strikcr, which is constructed as plainly shown in Fig. i. Fig. 6 is a similar,section showing` the parts as they exist after. the gun has been fired and while the shell is fiyin Fig. 7 is a similar section, showing the parts as they exist at the moment the shot strikes and is stopped, or,rather,while in the act of strikiug, the plunger having by its momentum moved forward to explode the shell.

The effect of my inv'ention is similar to that of many others before known-to wit, to explode the shell on striking. My improvement lies in the construction and application. of the parts, whereby both economy and safety are promoted. "My improved construction and application also render my shell superior to any of this class before known, by reason of the great simplicity attained. My entire apparatus may be made in but two parts, andin the mode of construction represented, and which I prefer t-o employ, (as on the whole the most desired,) there are but iive parts, including the pcrcussion copper cap, and there is but one hole to be tapped and but one screw or other nicely-fnished part to be fitted.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proeeed to describe it by the aid of the drawings.

A is the shell, and a the re-enforce around and within the fuse-hole.

B is a hole cored or otherwise produced of about the size represented, and Z) is a snaller continuation of this h ole into the intcrorcavity of the shell, (represented by A'.)

B'is afemalc-screw cut in the upper or outer end of B.

O is a strong and tightly-fitting cap,provid-` ed on its exterior with a male-thread adapted to the threads B', as represented. This cap C may also have a collar on outer face fitting upon a washer, of leather or the like, as is frequently known in shells, to insure greater safety against occasional penctration of iire into the shell before leaving the gun. I have not represented such a device; but it is well known to ordnance men, and may be attached to my invention by giving the cap G a greater length and an increased diametcr at its outer end.

D is a plunger or strker, of east-iron or other material, and properly formed at its forward end to receive and hold a common pcrcussioncap, such as is employed to discharge smallarms. Its axis is hollowed out, as shown in Fig.` 3, and is filled with gunpowder E. The back end of the passage is suiiiciently closed to prevent the escapc'of powder by adding a drop of varnish or wax to the powder at that point after the powder i s properly placed..

F F are wires, of soft brass or other material, which are laid in longitudinal grooves d din the opposite sides of the striker D. These wires project beyond D at each end, and are bent as represented. Their forward ends are also wcakened by a file or other suitable means, either by hand or by proper machinery, as shown at the points G, and are bent inward, or each toward the other, at a' right angle, as represented.

The cap O is provided with deep recesses c, corresponding exactly to the bent ends of the wires F F, as shown, 'and the parts are applied together in the manner indicatcd, so that v added after,

the forward ends of the wires F F serve as hooks to securely hold the plunger D and its attachments to the cap C against all ordinary forces.

I manufacture and charge my parts C D F and properly fit 'the copper cap H, and connect the whole together, ready for transportation, entirely separate from the shell A. I ap- 1 ply the cap H before connecting O and D toform D of malleable east-iron, narrowly grooved to receive the wires F F, and then to press F F in with great force. Another mode would be to proceed as last referred to, and then to mechanically compress together the sides of the groove, so as to tightly seize the wires. Any ready means may be adopted of tightly and che ply fitting them together, so that they shall not separate. The modes which involve much heat to be applied of course require that the powder E and the percussion-cap H be and not before, the wires are attached. To succeed best in this it is well to produce the wires F F in a bent form, with the entire forward parts spread open wider than is finally intended, as shown in red outline in Fig. 3. WVhen thus prepared and firmly attached to D, they may be hooked into the recesses in C by simply compressing them together.

In order to make the whole device of two pieces, it is necessary simply to east the parts D F F together, forming thereby a single casting of brass, malleable iron, or the like, uniting it to O, as indicated in Fig. 3, and putting acoating of fulminate, instead of the cap H, between D and. C. I prefer, however, to makethe wires F F of a different material from D, for obvious reasons, and to allow each end to extend beyond the surface-that is,

the enlarged surface of D. The ends Which project at the rear, by bending under the blow, soften the shock on the parts when the striker falls back on the breaking of the weak places G G in the wires F F. Soft-metal washers may be also employed to deaden the blow and avoid the elastic recoil forward, if the soft ends of F F, bending'and erushing, are not sufficient.

It will of course be observed that the small continuation b of the hole B must be large enough to admit the powder and the balls, if any of the latter are to..be mingledwith the filling of the. shell, or otherwise that a separate hole (not represented) must be provided for filling. In either case the hole b should be smoothly finished and a suitable contracted extension of D (properly turned or otherwise nicely fitted, with sufficient toughness to prevent the passage of powder) should stand in this hole, in the manner represented.

The proportions of all the parts of my apparatus may be changed at will without affecting the character of my invention, the effect of which may now be briefiy reviewed as follows:

The parts C D F may be inserted and removed at pleasure without danger of misplacement and without danger of accident, because the cap H cannot by any possibility be eXposed to any concussion until it has been fired from a gun. This is an advantagethat will be rcadily appreciated. It is mpossible to remove the screw-cap O without also removing the plunger D. Another is the absence of any necessity for a fuse case or plug in order to operate the mechanism safely and successfully, and to allow their transportation either within the shell or separate thcrefrom without danger placement or derangement.

On inserting the cap O and 'screwing it tght the shell may be handled safely, and allowed to. fall any ordinary distance without danger of explosion. On the discharge of the gun the shell A is violently urged forward,

and communicates or seeks to communicate a like motion to the striker D by means of the hooked wires F F. It partially does so, but before it gives the full motion to D the weak places G G in the wires F F break off and the plunger or striker D drops back, though with gentle force, becauseiit has already acquired much forward motion through the strain transmitted in the right direction through the hooked wires before their breakage. On striking back the projecting ends of F F strike the shoulder between B and b and upset and' bend. On the impact of the ball or projectile A against a vessel or other object, the shell A is checked while the plunger or striker D is yet free and moving at its full velocity. This causes D to plunge forward with great force within B, to explode the cap H against the cap C, thus firing the powder E and the entire contents of the shell with the usual destructive effect. v

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isv 1. Weakly attaehing the striker D to the cap O at the front end of the projectile, substantially in the manner and so as to secure the advantages herein set forth.

2. The construction and arrangement of the parts O, D, and F, so that the parts F F shall hook into the cavities 0 O, in the manner and' for the purpose hereinset forth.

3. Performing the triple function of, first,

of injury or misholding the striker directly eonnected to the front cap of the projectle until the diseharge of the peee; second partially overooming the all by the enploynent of the same Wres, F F,

in shown.

nerta of the strker before or in the net of J. XV. COCHRAN. theirbreakage; and, third, absorbing the Shock tnessesz and indueng non-elastety in the impact of the striker on the rear face of the Chamber B,

' DHOMAS D. STETSON, \V. A. HENDRIOKSON.

or their equivalents, arranged and bent as here- 

